Abstract: An improved human-powered air pump allowing rapid low pressure and high pressure inflation has an expandable/collapsible first and second chamber featuring and airflow path via a one-way valve. Said first chamber features an air intake. Said one-way valve allows air to flow in a downstream direction. Said pump features an outlet configured to receive air from said second chamber and connectable to an inlet of an inflatable object to feed air thereto from said pump.

Abstract: An inflatable air mattress system comprises an inflatable air mattress defining an air chamber and including an inlet passageway, an inflation valve mounted to the inflatable air mattress, and a connector. The valve defines a passageway that includes a lip and a valve member. The valve member includes a seal movable between a closed position wherein the valve member is at least partially covering the lip. In an open position, inflation air can pass through the passageway and into the air chamber of the mattress. The inflatable air mattress system includes an inflating bladder including an interior portion defined by at least one wall of flexible fabric having a first end and a second end. The first end includes a wide opening securable by a closing spring, the second end includes an outlet adapted to connect to the connector.

Abstract: A bulkhead assembly for a wind turbine blade is described, where the bulkhead is substantially formed from a flexible sheet material. In one aspect, the flexible sheet material can be attached to the larger assembly using a releasable connection, e.g. a zipped connection, to allow for relatively easy installation and removal, e.g. for repair or other service operations. At least a portion of the sheet material may be transparent, to allow for easy inspection of the interior of the wind turbine blade. In one aspect, the bulkhead assembly is arranged to couple to, or is formed integrally with, the root flange of a wind turbine blade. The use of such a flexible material to form the blade root end bulkhead allows for ease of handling and manufacturability over prior art systems.

Abstract: An implantable inflatable penile prosthesis cylinder includes an outer tube member having a longitudinal axis, an inner tube member contained within the outer tube member, and one or more tensile support members within the inner tube member. The inner tube member includes at least one inflatable chamber section, at least a portion of which is defined by a wall of the inner tube member. The one or more tensile support members extend between interior surfaces of the wall, and are placed in tension when the at least one chamber section is in an inflated state.

Abstract: A pneumatic support comprises a long hollow body, tapering towards the ends and two pressure/tension elements. The hollow body is embodied by a sleeve of gas-tight, flexible, non-stretch material. Said sleeve can be formed from two layers, an external non-stretch, flexible sleeve and an inner gas-tight elastic bladder. The hollow body can be pressurised with compressed gas by means of a valve. The both pressure/tension elements lie along diametrically opposed surface lines of the hollow body on the same and are partly or completely frictionally connected to the hollow body along said surface lines. The ends of the pressure/tension elements are frictionally connected to each other.

Abstract: A readily deployable shield for single family dwellings and other structures protects the structures from transient, temporary threats such as fire, hurricane, tornado or similar forces. The deployable structure shield is delivered to a structure site in an enclosed shield module. The enclosed shield module may be permanently or temporarily secured to the roof of the structure to be protected. The shield module includes the shield canopy, an energy generator, a compressor, control electronics, one or more deployment catapults, sandbags, lanyards, tie-down straps, and a manual deployment apparatus. Once secured to the roof of a structure, the shield canopy may be deployed manually with the manual deployment apparatus, or remotely using the control electronics and any suitable initiation apparatus such as a smartphone.

Abstract: A tethermast and frag wall includes a fabric device having a fill volume tillable with a fill material on a flexible or compliant mast system. The fill volume may be a chambered curtain. The tethermast and frag wall is self supporting, easily deployed, and may be used in connection with a structure or may be deployed stand-alone. A tether system for an air beam structure utilizing a flexible tethermast, an external frag wall or frag curtain, soft couplings, air beam slings, or combinations thereof to reduce the effects of pressure waves, such as blast waves, onto and into an air beam structure and any inhabitants.

Abstract: A temporary protective system provides for minimizing storm damage to selected framing systems of a structure, such as door or window openings, while also eliminating the permanent installation damage common to such structures when conventional plywood covers, shutters, or metal shielding are installed. The protective system incorporates an inflation system and an attachment or securing system for securing the inflation system relative to the selected framing or structural system without damage. The multiple proposed systems allow a user to install each protective system from a convenient position and to uninstall the system without causing structural damage for later compact storage. An additional rigid shielding member, or a series of rigid shielding members, may be incorporated to provide additional protection.

Abstract: An inflatable air beam having a laceloop assembly affixed thereto, a structure utilizing same and a method of constructing a structure is provided. In the structure, the fabric is laced to a structural support, typically, an air beam to position and properly tension the fabric thereon. The laceloop assembly includes spaced apart adjacent laceloops that are interconnected to secure the fabric panel to the structural support. In practicing the method, the laceloops are passed through fabric panels and through adjacent laceloops to interconnect the adjacent laceloops and secure the fabric panels to the structural support.

Abstract: The outstanding tensile strength of some materials are used in compression applications by using air pressure to supply the outward force on an enclosure and by using interior tension members to maintain the geometry of the air-pressurized structure. The air pressure on each face of the structure is balanced by the tension in the tension members. Due to the high modulus of the tension members, the air-pressurized structures are very rigid. It is the air pressure that actually supports any load placed on the structure, but it is the tension members that maintain the geometry when the load is removed, and the strength of the tension members determine how much air pressure can be sustained. The mass of tension material required in such a structure is roughly equivalent to the amount of filament material required in a cable to support the same load. The Compressed-air Rigid Building Blocks can be stacked like bricks to form strong, lightweight walls, buildings, towers, and other structures.

Abstract: A building component for forming a roof. The component includes an ETFE foil cushion comprising sheets of ETFE foil which are held in a frame about their periphery, and which are inflated. The frame includes a release mechanism for releasing the cushion from the frame, for example, in the event of a fire.

Abstract: A temporary protective system provides for minimizing storm damage to selected framing systems of a structure, such as door or window openings, while also eliminating the permanent installation damage common to such structures when conventional plywood covers, shutters, or metal shielding are installed. The protective system incorporates an inflation involved system and an attachment or securing system for securing the inflation system relative to the selected framing or structural system without damage. The multiple proposed systems allow a user to install each protective system from a convenient position and to uninstall the system without causing structural damage for later compact storage. An additional rigid shielding member, or a series of rigid shielding members, may be incorporated to provide additional protection.

Abstract: An air charged appliance includes an air chamber and an air sac, made in various shapes for different uses. The air sac is placed in the air chamber and filled up with air to become inflated together with the air chamber, but the both are made separately from each other. The air chamber is not easy to break and able to endure bumping so the air charged appliance can be used for a long period of time.

Abstract: Dome-type apparatus formed largely of flexible sheeting, with a fan or blower means inflatable to provide a chamber large enough to accommodate one or more human beings. The apparatus is also provided to be usable by just the fan or blower means without the dome member, so as to provide utility on occasions in which the dome member is not to be used.

Abstract: The present invention is an inflatable barrier device for use with elevator door jamb panels and entryway doors and jambs to protect the surfaces of these panels and doors from sustaining damage from collisions with moving equipment, building materials and furniture. The device protects the surfaces from scratches and dents when furniture and construction materials inadvertently bang into these protected surfaces. The entryway protector comprises two sections and securing components. An inflatable main rectangular section is separated by a line of stitching from a minor rectangular section or flap that is filled with padding material. The securing components secure the protector to the surfaces against dislodging by contact with equipment, building materials and furniture.